MLS's Foreign Rule, Gomez Update and More

We told you exclusively here at the Insider two weeks ago that MLS had proposed ditching its senior international/youth international designation and allowing each team to sign seven foreign players, regardless of age. (No longer would clubs be limited to four older internationals and three younger ones.)

Now I am hearing that the USSF has approved an MLS proposal that will allow each club to have EIGHT foreign players with no age restrictions. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

Don't expect a sudden surge of foreign talent to land on our shores anytime soon -- the meager salary cap will take care of that -- but at least now the clubs have the flexibility of discovering moderately priced foreigners of any age.

As for Christian Gomez and his negotiations with DCU, last spring's offer for two guaranteed years has apparently become a one-year guaranteed package. No one directly involved in the talks is willing to discuss the particulars. However, well-connected sources tell me that Gomez has also drawn interest from clubs in Asia, Argentina and, most recently, Mexico. I'm told that he would like to stay in MLS, but if the money and guarantees are not there, he will weigh his options. Expect a resolution, one way or the other, by mid-December.

Also, DCU's Tom Soehn, KC's Curt Onalfo, RSL's Jason Kreis and Dallas assistant Marco Ferruzzi attended a scouting combine in Argentina today to take a close look at approximately 60 players. I'm told Soehn was in Brazil before heading to Argentina. Dave Kasper has been in Argentina since last week to monitor players and presumably to finalize a deal with Juan Sebastian Veron.